TubeNet

which is the better all around BB tuba choice, the miraphone 186, or meinl weston 25? This is for all purpose playing.

Is there any reason to spring for the miraphone 187? Is the 191 versatile enough for solo-large ensemble work?

anything would be a great help!

Well they first two instruments you speak of have pretty much been the standard for BBb rotary valve tubas. I cant see how you could go wrong with either. It would come down to which one you like more when trying them out. The Miraphone sound would be my choice, but I know many a tuba player who would say the same about the MW. If you are willing to sonsider it the Miraphone 1291 BBb is probably the "best" (IMHO)piston valeved BBb out there to add another horn to think about.

for those who have played both, how does the sound/response/overall playability of the 191 compare to the 1291?

Its been a while since I played a Miraphone...but from what I remember I like the MW-25 better.

I just purchased my own mira 186. It was a huge step up from my old refurbished convertible yamaha ybb. I am absolutely ecstactic with the sound quality, rotar action, and nature of the horn. If this helps, I had some time on a PT-1, and in my opinion, the 186 beats its socks off, especially intonation wise. I also tried my instructor's 186CC, but decided to stick with the BBb, because it worked with me better (fingers laid aside). Can't go wrong. I work for $5 an hour to make my $140 payment a month, am a junior in high school, and don't have a single regret.

Josh "I even flip burgers for my Miraphone" Stanley

To the surge of Miraphone fanatics responding to this thread, I feel obligated to chime in with an endorsement of the MW25. It has sheer power for large groups without the blastissimo element.

***

Biggs wrote:
To the surge of Miraphone fanatics responding to this thread, I feel obligated to chime in with an endorsement of the MW25. It has sheer power for large groups without the blastissimo element.


so does the 191 and 1291

I can't refute this claim, as my Miraphone experience is 99% limited to the 186. But everybody has a Miraphone these days. I guess I just travel to the oompah of a different tuba.

Wha? Mirror phones aren't THAT expensive!

Biggs wrote:...But everybody has a Miraphone these days. I guess I just travel to the oompah of a different tuba.

Miraphone has been relegated to the status of "school horn" for many years, and I for one am glad to see them returning to the favor they once enjoyed. Fashions come and go, and Miraphones seem to be fashionable once again.

As to the question of 186 versus MW25, I would suggest that though they look similar, they have different objectives and meet different requirements. I have always thought the Meinl-Westons of this design were dark to the point of risking woofiness. This might be an advantage in some ensemble work. But I prefer the clarity and responsiveness of the 186, especially with smaller ensembles and when playing music where the tuba is a voice rather than a sub-woofer vibrating machine. For example, I'd take the Miraphone any day for a polka gig, or for an 18-piece wind ensemble. For bigger groups, I prefer a bigger sound, but not necessarily a darker sound.

I wish I had what it takes to enjoy a 191 or 1291, but I just don't seem to. I find them quite hard to steer, especially in the middle and upper registers. I can do lip slurs and flexibility exercises much more readily on my Holton than on a 191.

To answer the question, "what is the best big BBb tuba on the market", I think that is a gap right now. I would like to see instruments that are easier to play in the BBb 5/4 category. Frankly, I find the Willson 3100 (more 6/4 than 5/4) to be more playable than the big Miraphone, despite that it doesn't provide as much feedback to the player. There doesn't seem to be a new BBb tuba on the market right now that has the easy playability of, say, a B&S PT-606, which was the most fun tuba I played at the Army Conference this year. I also tried out the Kanstul "5/4" BBb tuba, but I found that it lacked the big, open sound that I would expect from a big tuba, though I think it's a good entry in the 4/4 market. And I played a B&S PT-2PS (aka VMI 3301), and I thought it played very well, though it is also a 4/4 instrument.

Rick "who just conducted the test on Saturday" Denney

Here is my $.02

As far as the original question goes (sorry) I've recently played both and can give you my impressions. I play a 10-year-old or so 186 normally, and played another person's more than 10 year old MW25 not too long ago. My impression was that the MW25 was a really nice horn on par with the Mirafone in fit, finish and construction. The sound was similar between the two with the Mirafone sound being more "centered" to my ear and the MW sound being the fuller of the two. The MW bell had was wider through the throat.

I'd prefer the Mirafone for solo work and it does very well in most ensembles. When the size of an ensemble got to the point I'd want a larger (or smaller, for that matter) horn, I would undoubtedly want something completely different than either. It wouldn't be a waste of money to buy either tuba, they're really good. While there are minor differences, either one is more than adequate for what most of us do.


-T